Jointure for prefabricated structures



1951 A. J. FITZGERALD 2,577,119

JOINTURE FOR PREFABRICATED STRUCTURES Filed June 15, 1950 FigJ.

8 Invent or: Albert J. Fitzge a His Attorney.

Patented Dec. 4, 1 951 men-1+ OFFICE? UNITED New York i ap li aflonjiune 1950,. Serial No. 1627.817

' j e cleans-. (o1. as -est My invention relates to a jointure between members of a prefabricated structure. It has more particularly to do with such jointures in decorative structures such as ornamental grills commonly used in radio and television sets.

one of the objects of my invention iste pro vide such a jointure" which" capable of securely holding'togetherseveral members of such a structure and to prevent vibration between the different members, produced, for example; by

loudspeaker operation;

A further object of my'invention is to provide such a jointure whichmay form a decorative component of theprnamental design made up by the grill.

Still another object of my invention is to provide such a jointure which is economical to construct and to assemble in the ornamental grill.

The novel features which I believe to be characteristic of my invention are set forth with particularity in the appended claims.

My invention itself may best be understood by reference to the following description taken in connection with the accompanying drawing in which Fig. 1 represents a decorative grill employing my invention; Fig. 2 is a section on line 2-2 of Fig. 1; Fig. 3 is a rear view of the structure with a part cut away; Fig. 4 is a partially exploded and partially sectionalized view; Fig. 5 is a modification, and Fig. 6 is a section on 6-6 of Fig. 5.

Referring to Fig. 1, I have shown therein at I what may be, for example, the front wall of the cabinet of a radio or television set. This wall may have an opening 2 which may be closed, for example, by a suitable tapestry forward of the loudspeaker of the radio set. Forward of this tapestry is the decorative metallic grill illustrated and which may comprise members 3 which are joined together by junctures 4 constructed in accord with my invention. These junctures are desired securely to hold the different members 3 together without danger of vibration or rattling within the juncture 4.

Fig. 2 shows a section of this juncture on the line 2-2 of Fig. 1. It will be observed that it comprises a cylinder 5, one end of which is closed at 6 and into which the members 3 project through slots 1 in the wall of the cylinder. These slots run lengthwise of the wall parallel with the axis of the cylinder and hold the members 3 in a plane parallel with the axis. Preferably the members 3 are cut away as indicated in the drawing so that only projections of the width 8 project through the slots, each of these projections being provided with a notch 9 as indicated.

Into these notches are pressed resilient metallic members Ill which bear against the cylinder and against 'thenotch tendingv to hold the members 3 in place and to draw them toward the axis of the cylinder.

In the bottomof the cylinder adjacent the closed end 6' isa disk f5 of suitable cushion mate'- rial such as wood, cork; orrubber' which may, if desired, have grooves cut therein to receive the edge of the projections 8-. These grooves are indicated by dotted lines IG. Preferably, however, the edge of projections 8- e'mbed' themselves in the material of the disk, I5 under thepressure-applied thereto: in assembly of" the juncture. In the final operation of assemblya closure member [8 which may, if desired, comprise a disk or an annular member having a rim I9 of such dimension as to fit firmly against the sidewall of the cylinder. This member l8 may be firmly pressed as by a punch, or machine press, into the ends of the cylinder 5 until it bears heavily against the resilient members In causing them to pull projections 8 inward toward the axis of the cylinder and downward against the cushion material of the disk 6. Friction between the rim l9 and the member 5 securely holds the member I8 in place and the parts in their assembled position with the resilient members I!) under stress.

While I have described the members ID as resilient any suitable angle member may be used which tends to straighten when put under pressure at the vertex of the angle. If'desired a flat rigid metal piece partially broken at the vertex of the angle may be used. Similarly a hinged member may be used. I prefer, however, the resilient members as shown in the drawing.

Fig. 3 shows the rear view of the assembly with the member 18 partially broken away to show the resilient member Ill. In this particular form of the invention the members 3 enter the jointure at a small angle to each other so that a single resilient member In may be employed to secure two of the members 3 in place.

Fig. 4 is an exploded view of the same assembly showing the closure member l8 removed and better illustrating the form of the resilient member I0.

Fig. 5 differs from the form of the invention illustrated in Figs. 3 and 4 only in that the members 3 enter the jointure at a greater angle thereto thereby making it necessary to employ one resilient member In for every member 3, whereas in Fig. 3 one resilient member Ill is used for two resilient members 3.

In this case it is preferred that member In add to the appearance of the design of the grillv work.

While I have shown particular' 'forms' of my invention, it will, of course, be understood that various modifications may be. made therein and I contemplate by the appendedclaims to cover all such modifications which may fall within the true spirit and scope of my invention.

ing a closed end. a disk of cushion material in said cylinder adjacent said closed end, said members projecting through slots in the wall of said cylinder in planes extending radially of said cylinder and parallel with the axis of said cylinder, each member having a notch ,in'the edge thereof opposite said closed end, a resilient member stressed between said notch and the wall of said cylinder, and a disk pressed into the opposite end or said cylinder to close it and bear onto said resilient members to cause them to tend to draw said-members inward and to bear into said cush- What I claim as new and desireto secure by Letters Patent of the United States is:

1. The combination, in a jointure of members in a prefabricated structure, of a cylinder having a closed end, said members projecting through slots in the wall of said cylinder in planes extending radially of said cylinder and parallel with the axis of said cylinder, each member having a notch in the edge thereof opposite said closed end, a member stressed between said notch and the wall of said cylinder, and a closure member ion material disk.

3. The combination, in a jointure of members in a prefabricatedjstructure, of a cylinder having a closed end, a disk of cushion material in said cylinder adjacent said closed end having a stem projecting along the axis of said cylinder, said members projecting through slots in said cylinder in planes radial of said cylinder and parallel to its axis, each member having a notch in the edge thereof opposite said closed end, a resilient member stressed between said notch and the wall of said cylinders, and a disk pressed into theopposite end of said cylinder to close it and to bear onto saidresilient members to cause them to tend to draw said members inward against said stem and to press them against said cushion material disk thereby to prevent vibration between members of said juncture.

ALBERT J. FITZGERALD.

No references cited. 

